57’s get things turned around at home
The Swift Current 57’s finished a six-game home stand on a high note last week with three straights wins at Mitchell Field.
Thursday, the 57’s completed a comeback victory with a walk-off hit by pitch in extra innings to defeat the visiting Melville Millionaires 5-4.
The 57’s trailed 4-1, but scored the final four runs to avoid a fourth straight loss.
Shortstop Ethan Hunter was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring Jered Binsfield home for the winning run.
The 57’s got 11 strikeouts from starter Carter Buuck and strong relief appearances from Joey Machado, Matt Fiorini and Nick Hooper. Hooper was credited with the win after retiring the only batter he faced in the top of the 10th inning.
Justin Braziel opened the scoring for Melville with a solo home run in the first inning.
The 57’s answered in the bottom of the inning when catcher Ben Komonosky made a strong first impression when he doubled home Bryan Benz in his season debut.
Tyler Ulrich launched another solo home run for Melville in the fifth inning to make it 2-1. The Millionaires added another two runs in the sixth, but the 57’s got one back when third baseman Dauson Tate singled home Komonosky. They got within one run when Binsfield scored on an error in the eighth inning. The 57’s tied the game in the ninth inning when Benz scored on an error.
Friday, starter Zach Bravo struck out 13 Melville Millionaires to lead the 57’s to their second straight win.
The Albuquerque, NM product held the free swinging Melville team to three hits, two walks, and one run over 6.2 innings in a 7-1 win.
Aaron Pugh and Garret Hawkins added scoreless relief appearance as the 57’s improved to 5-8.
Bo Mcclintock capped the scoring with a two-run home run in the fourth inning, his seventh in the past six games and eighth overall to lead the Western Major Baseball League.
Centre-fielder Anthony Stewart also enjoyed a two-hit outing with two runs batted in. Second baseman Will Baker was on base with two walks, one hit by pitch, stole two bases, scored twice, and knocked home a run.
Saturday, Tyler Wojciechowski wasn’t in the starting line-up, but still made a major contribution with two home runs and four runs batted in to lead the 57’s to their third straight win.
The 57’s and visiting Fort Mcmurray Giants each knocked out 14 hits, but the 57’s slugged three home runs and made some heads up plays on the bases in an 8-5 win.
Wojciechowski stepped in when slugger Bo Mcclintock was drilled in the head by a bad bounce while fielding a ground ball in the first inning.
Wojciechowski hit a solo home run in the bottom of the inning, a two-run blast in the third, and added an RBI single in the fourth inning.
Shortstop Ethan Hunter set the table with two hits and two runs scored. Myles Miller made his 57’s debut and singled, doubled, stole a base, and knocked run a home.
Second baseman Will Baker had his best day at the plate with three hits, one run scored, and an RBI. Komonosky added a solo home run in the eighth inning to close the scoring.
Mitch Guiberson allowed 10 hits, one walk, and four earned runs with four strikeouts over four innings in the start.
Spencer Koelewyn picked up the win with three scoreless innings. Hooper got the final six outs to earn the save.
The 57’s improved to 6-8 and sat fourth in the Eastern Division, while the Giants fell to 5-8.
“The guys are playing well,” said coach Joe Carnahan. “It’s starting on the mound, our pitchers are doing a great job. Offensively, we are starting to do the little things like running the bases well. That was kind of the difference here in that game. In the one inning Will Baker made a heads up play on that bunt and scored from second and Ethan Hunter took third with nobody covering. Those are the little things that as the summer goes along that we can capitalize on.”
It has been a quick turnaround from a 3-8 start to the season.
“It’s just focusing on the process,” said Carnahan. “We can’t really focus on the results when we are doing good or doing bad. You can’t focus on the results, you’ve got to focus on what you’re doing and how you’re doing it and make adjustments off of that.”
Carnahan was impressed with how his team responded from the loss of Mcclintock early in Saturday’s win.
“Bo didn’t want to come out of the game. He’s a tough kid and it was hard to take him out of the game. But Wojo came in with two home runs and an RBI single. He had a great game today.”
The 57’s were bolstered by a couple additions last week, but still expect a few more bodies.
“We’ve got a couple more pieces on the way still,” said Carnahan. “Stuff always happens throughout the summer. The guys that are here are doing a great job and the guys that we have added that have had to come late have contributed big time to help us win.”
The 57’s are looking forward to some road games after a six-game home stand.
“It’s the same. Being on the road is fun too. These guys get to hang out all day and all night and it’s a lot of fun. We’ve got a good group of guys and guys are starting to have a lot of fun and it’s fun to be at the park,” said Carnahan.
The 57’s will open this week with a home game against Weyburn on Thursday. They have a rare twoday break before visiting the Brooks Bombers on Sunday and then host Edmonton on Monday and Regina on Tuesday. They will also visit the Weyburn Beavers on Wednesday.